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TOUCHING: Band determined to finish album as member battles cancer

Tim Phillips was diagnosed with cancer eight years ago, but he says music has helped keep him alive

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Updated: 8:40 AM EDT Apr 8, 2017

TOUCHING: Band determined to finish album as member battles cancer

Tim Phillips was diagnosed with cancer eight years ago, but he says music has helped keep him alive

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Updated: 8:40 AM EDT Apr 8, 2017

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WEBVTT ONLY ON WISN 12, A LOCAL BANDRALLIES AROUND ONE OF THEIRMEMBERS AS HE GOES THROUGHCANCER AS BEN HUTCHISON REPORTS,THEY'RE NOT GIVING UP ON THEIRGOAL TO RELEASE ONE FINAL ALBUMTOGETHER.♪ >> THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUTMUSIC AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THOSEWHO CREATE IT.♪ IN MANY WAYS, MUSIC IS A BIGREASON WHY GUITARIST TIMPHILLIPS IS STILL ALIVE.THAT WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO.>> IT WAS A DIAGNOSIS OF CANCERSTAGE FOR.I WAS GIVEN A PROGNOSIS OFNINE-MONTH TO LIVE.BEN: THAT WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO.A SECOND GO AROUND FOR THE BAND,SPANGLEMAKER.PHILLIPS WAS HESITANT ABOUTTELLING HIS BANDMATES ABOUT THECANCER.>> UNBEKNOWNST TO US, HE WASGOING THROUGH CHEMO TREATMENTS.>> I WANTED TO PRETEND LIKE IDIDN'T HAVE CANCER.I THOUGHT IF I COULD THINKMYSELF OUT, I WOULDN'T GETWORSE.BEN: HE FILLED THEM IN.THE CANCER WENT AWAY, BUT NOWIT'S BACK AND PHILLIPS DOESN'TKNOW HOW MUCH TIME HE HAS.I HAVE HAD A GROUP OF PEOPLETHAT CARE ABOUT ME AND WANT MEAROUND.I WANT TO BE AROUND FOR THEM ANDFOR MY WIFE AND FUN.BEN: LAST SUMMER, THE BANDDECIDED THEY WANTED SOMETHING,ANOTHER ALBUM.♪THE ALBUM NAME?DEADLINES.>> I WAS READY.BEN: A SPECIAL PROJECT.RIGHT NOW THEY'RE IN THE PROCESSOF LAYING DOWN TRACKS AT THEEXCHANGE RECORDING STUDIO INMILWAUKEE.>> IF IT WASN'T FOR HIM AND HISPASSION TO KEEP GOING, WEWOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.>> TEAM SPIRIT AND DRIVE ANDENERGY LEVEL IS REALLYREMARKABLE.♪BE THIS SONG TITLED, "IT'S SOEASY."IT'S EASY, BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKEFAMILY NO MATTER WHAT.>> WE ALL FELT FROM THEBEGINNING WE HAD TO GET THISMADE.BEN: EVERY SONG EVENTUALLY COMESTO AN END. PHILLIPS IS JUSTHOPING HIS PLAYS ON FOREVER. >> YOU HAVE COMPLETELY INVESTEDIN ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD ASK FORMORE FROM THE PEOPLE AROUND METHAN THAT.♪

TOUCHING: Band determined to finish album as member battles cancer

Tim Phillips was diagnosed with cancer eight years ago, but he says music has helped keep him alive

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Updated: 8:40 AM EDT Apr 8, 2017

A local band is determined to release another album together as its guitarist battles another round of cancer.

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"It was a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer, stage 4, and I was given nine months to live," Tim Phillips said.

That was eight years ago.

About the same time as my diagnosis, we decided to get back together and do some music together," Phillips said.

It was a second go around for the band, Spanglemaker. Phillips was hesitant to tell his bandmates about the cancer.

"Unbeknownst to us, he was going through chemo treatments the whole time we were practicing and we never knew," said singer Terrence Sippel.

Phillips just didn't want to think about his diagnosis.

"I wanted to pretend I didn't have cancer," Phillips said. "I thought if I could fake myself out, then it wouldn't get worse, was I guess my logic."

He finally filled them in. The cancer went away, but now it's back. Phillips doesn't know how much time he has.

"I have a group of people that care about me, and want me around, and vice versa," Phillips said. "I want to be around for them and my wife and my son."

Last summer the band decided they wanted to put out another album. This time, it's called "Deadlines."

They're in the process of laying down tracks at The Exchange recording studio in Milwaukee.

"If it wasn't for him and his passion to keep going, we wouldn't be here today," said drummer Mike Magestro.

It's a labor of love, family and friendship.

"I think we all felt from the beginning, that we had to get this made," Sippel said.

Every song eventually comes to an end. Phillips is just hoping his plays on forever, and he had a message for those that have supported him.

"You all have invested in me with all your heart, and I don't know how I could ask for more from the people around me," Phillips said.

The band created a Kickstarter campaign to help offset production costs. If anyone would like to donate, here's a link: